Demystifying the art of jewellery-making

22 Jun

**Kimberly Mather and her chihuahua Taco… “I am finding that people are really wanting to get back to basics and learn tangible skills so they can craft beauty with their own two hands”.**

In 2008, Jewellery Collective Founder Kimberley Mather was based in London working as a photojournalist and enjoying a nomadic lifestyle.

But she felt there was something ‘missing’. So when she received a call from a friend in Brisbane offering her a full time PR job, she jumped at the chance to return home and put down some roots again.

While working on a particularly stressful project Kimberley decided to explore silversmithing and enrolled in an Introduction to Jewellery Making workshop where her enduring love affair with metal and gemstones was born.

Fast forward to 2013 and Kimberley was one of many staff who lost their position with the State Government.

“Fortunately, I had a studio set up in my garage where I started making jewellery,” she said. “I took my pieces to the West End markets and they sold out, every time. That was when I started to think that it might be a good career change for me.”

Five years ago, Kimberley moved back home to the Sunshine Coast with her late husband, who was in remission from leukaemia at the time.

“My partner’s illness certainly changed things and as anyone who has been through that experience will know, it causes you to re-evaluate your life at a very deep level.”

With work prospects on the Coast limited, Kimberley once again started selling her hand-crafted silver and gemstone jewellery, this time at the Original Eumundi Markets.

It was after a particularly exhausting 40-degree market day that Kimberley decided that it was time to change direction and started looking for a studio space.

She approached the Arts team at Sunshine Coast Council, who suggested a maker space at the Old Ambulance Station in Nambour and in 2017, Jewellery Collective was born.

Kimberley said, “When I first dreamed up Jewellery Collective, my goal was to have my very own studio and gallery space, but it then evolved into a school, as I was getting so many requests for private workshops.”

“My goal is to demystify the art of jewellery making, to open it up to a wider audience rather than it just be the exclusive domain of jewellers,” Kimberley said of the hugely popular workshops.

“We live in such a fast-paced world and I am finding that people are really wanting to get back to basics and learn tangible skills so they can craft things of beauty with their own two hands,” Kimberley said.

Jewellery Collective has evolved over the past 3 years and has gone from teaching mostly beginners to now focusing on intermediate and skill-based workshops taught by visiting teachers.

One of Kimberley’s most popular courses is the ‘Forged in Love’ Wedding Ring workshop. “What better way to ensure your wedding or commitment rings hold special meaning than to hand craft them yourselves,” she said.

“I am so grateful that I found my calling and have had the opportunity to make my dreams a reality, from making and selling jewellery at the markets, to launching my own jewellery school,” Kimberley said.

“It is such a joy to me to be able to teach people how to make beautiful things. The past twelve months have certainly caused many people to reflect on their lives and how they want to spend their time.”

• You can find out more about upcoming jewellery workshops at www.jewellerycollective.com.au